The Icelandic neo-classical composer and producer takes a break from producing his cinematic soundscapes to pick out his 13 favourite records, ahead of his set at the Barbican tonight

Death Cab For Cutie - We Have The Facts And We’re Voting YesIt’s their kind of breakthrough record. They did a couple of EPs before it, maybe one record before, and then this. It’s a great pop record. Really good lyrics. I think I was 18 when it came out, so it was very good for my teenage years. There’s a lot of heartbreak. It was my life soundtrack for a really long time. It followed me around. Most of the records from that time of my life don’t resonate with me these days, but this one still does. I think it’s because this one’s better. I can’t really listen to Jimmy Eat World at the moment! But this one lasts.

When I first heard it I was touring the UK with my hardcore punk band. I had a Minidisc player, and the singer had this album on a Minidisc. That’s so retro! It became the soundtrack to all these countless hours in the tour van driving around the English countryside and European highways. That’s always been the memories I associate with this record: just sitting in a van!

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